Ceremony to lay the foundation stone of the Rey-Bouba agro-pastoral training centre in the North Region
  • Date de Publication : 2024-04-18

As the supervisory Authority of Protected of Areas in Cameroon, the Minister of Forestry and Wildlife chaired the ceremony to lay the foundation stone of the Rey-Bouba Agropastoral Training Centre on 15 April 2024. The ceremony was organised by the Executive Secretary of the Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC), assisted technically and financially by the German Development Cooperation as part of the “Sustainable Forest Management in the Congo Basin” programme.

The Minister of Forestry and Wildlife was warmly welcomed by the people of Garoua as soon he steeped feet at the Garoua International Airport on 14 April 2024, accompanied not only by some senior government officials such as the Minister of Employment and Vocational Training (MINEFOP), the Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA) and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), but also by the Executive Secretary of COMIFAC, the Head of the German Cooperation in Cameroon and other officials.

At the break of the following day, the Minister of Forestry and Wildlife and the large delegation set off in convoy for the town of Rey-Bouba, a 4-hour drive across the savannah. On arrival at Réy-Bouba, His Majesty the Lamido of Réy-Bouba, Second Vice-President of the SENATE, was honoured to welcome them. After the usual greetings, the ceremony to lay the foundation stone of the local Agropastoral Training Centre began in strict compliance with the programme drawn up for the occasion. Each of the main speakers took the floor to explain the background that led to the construction of the centre.

It should be underscored that this Training Centre aims at providing a learning and production framework for indigenous peoples and transhumant herdsmen in agroforestry, craft trades as well as innovations in energy and food efficiency on the one hand and on the other at enhancing agricultural, pastoral and ecotourism production systems tailored to the sedentary lifestyle of socio-professional stakeholders in resource areas. In a nutshell, the Training Centre will help to train locals in a bid to carry out activities without encroaching on Protected Areas.

At the end of the addresses, MINFOF symbolically laid the foundation stone, cut the ribbon, and finally moved to the aerodrome site to witness a drone simulation surveillance. The festivities lived up to their billing. Afterwards, the Minister of Forestry and Wildlife and his delegation took leave of His Majesty the Lamido of Réy-bouba and immediately returned to Garoua, then landed in Yaounde.